Governor Will Put Stricter Smoking Laws to Vote of the People

Civic and public health officials joined Governor Fallin at the state capitol for her announcement today.

Credit Courtesy of the office of Governor Mary Fallin

The Governor responds to the voting down of a change to tobacco laws she proposed in her State of the State address.

Details have not been finalized yet about an initiative petitions regarding proposals aimed at reducing second hand smoke risks.

Governor Fallin announced plans for the petition after the failure in the Senate General Government committee yesterday of a measure to restore control over tobacco regulations to local governments.

“We’re bypassing the legislature, which has not acted decisively to protect the people of this state,” said Terry Cline, Commissioner of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. “We will put this question as a vote to the people.”

Whether the proposed ballot initiative will look like the failed Senate bill, or would instead take the form of a stricter statewide ban, remains to be seen.

Cline says the coming weeks will see work to finalize those details. The goal is to have the question on the ballot in 2014.

In the meantime, the governor’s office has launched a website—www.DontSmokeOnMe.com—where Oklahomans can sign up to receive more information about the petition.